Bakgatla Chief accepts unionists petition

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Monday May 9, 2011 00:00

On Friday, he accepted a petition from representatives of the public service workers on behalf of Kgosi Kgafela Kgafela II, who was not in the country.  Sekai said that he had not seen a letter allegedly circulated to traditional leaders countrywide not to accept the petition.  The deputy chief could not say what steps the Bakgatla bogosi would take after their receipt of the petition because Kgafela is not around.   He explained that the petition is addressed to Kgafela who will decide what to do with it.  The Bakgatla Kgosi is the first to receive the petition, in which public service unions seek to sensitise parents about the deteriorating state of education in the country.

The unions say the problems in the education sector have been worsened by the strike.  The petition says the current crop of Form Four students have been hit hard because they reported to school late as a result of last year's examination crisis.  Their first term at school has now been disrupted by the strike.  Union representatives had planned to present various traditional leaders with the petition last week, but got a rude awakening when the police thwarted them.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Phillip Kgamane of Shoshong told The Monitor that he had turned back union representatives because they sought not to give him the petition but to address the people.  He said they wanted to make the address without prior notice and he advised them to go back and make proper arrangements. 

Kgosi Oscar Mosielele of Moshupa said that while he does not have a problem with accepting a petition from union representatives, he has a problem with plans by the unionists to address the people.